La Union logs 16 new COVID-19 cases, total infections jump to 139

SAN FERNANDO CITY –  La Union has recorded 16 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections on Friday,  14 of them from a barangay in this city which had been locked down earlier this week.

San Fernando City, La Union (Google maps)

Barangay San Agustin now has a total of 37 residents who tested positive of the virus. It has recorded two fatalities.

The youngest patient is a three-year old boy. The oldest patient is a 65-year-old man who is the only case so far to have displayed symptoms and who was admitted at the Ilocos Training Research and Medical Training Center.

Nine of the patients are males while five are females.

Mayor Alfredo Pablo Ortega said the village will remain under total lockdown. He said the City Covid-19 Inter Agency Task Force is enforcing strict measures and has employed contact tracing activities to stop the spread of the disease.

“We appeal to everyone to stay home, follow the minimum health standards and actively cooperate with the local authorities in observing the guidelines and protocols,” Ortega said.

Meanwhile, the municipality of San Juan reported and recorded the 15th of the 16 new cases.  The patient is a 23-year-old woman who is on home quarantine.

The 16th new patient is a 59-year old man from Barangay Sta. Rita in Bacnotan town, who was exposed to an infected patient but who has remains asymptomatic.

La Union Governor Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III said the province currently has 75 active cases which represents 53.96 percent of the total 139 cases recorded since March.

The new cases has been attributed to the increased testing capacity of the province, the governor said but advised the public “to be vigilant and mindful.”

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